2007 saw traffic fatalities dip below 6,000 for the first time in 54 years in Japan.

Source: Yahoo News Japan

Sales at convenience stores rose 5.3% in August compared with a year previously. Total sales were reported at 678.48 billion yen. The increase was partly due to more shoppers buying cigarettes now that vending machines require a TASPO card to purchase tobacco.

Source: Daily Yomiuri

Japan ranked 18th in the annual global corruption survey tied with the US. New Zealand, Sweden and Denmark were joint top followed by Singapore. The UK was 16th. China was ranked 72nd. Somalia was dead last at 180.